true autograph; genuine handwriting
Refers to a work written in the artist's or author's own hand, as opposed to a copy or reproduction. Used especially for calligraphy, paintings, and historical documents.
This hanging scroll is said to be a true autograph of that famous calligrapher.
At the museum, I saw a scroll believed to be Murasaki Shikibu's genuine handwriting.
自筆 simply means 'one's own handwriting' and can refer to any handwritten text by the person, not necessarily an artistic or valuable work. 真跡 emphasizes authenticity and is often used for historically or artistically significant pieces.
写し means 'copy' or 'reproduction', the opposite of 真跡.
Standard kanji spelling for a genuine handwritten work.
Variant using 蹟 (footprint/trace), seen in older or formal contexts.
Rare variant using 迹 (trace/mark).
Compound of 真 (true/genuine) and 跡/蹟/迹 (trace/mark), literally 'true trace'. The spelling 真跡 is most common today.